Added to inquiry!
DOCUMENTARY

New Life Blossoms in an Old Village:
Seven Years of Struggle and Hope

DOCUMENTARY 2013 48 mins Episode(s): 1 English English
The aging of Japan's population is steadily hollowing out the country's agriculture.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, a struggling farming community in Ishikawa Prefecture called Sugaike began trying to attract young residents. Hiroyuki Yago is one of the people who came. He moved from Osaka to Sugaike in order to grow organic vegetables, but there wasn't enough farmland available to rent and he has trouble making a living. Nevertheless, the locals have accepted Yago as one of their own, and he intends to stay. By 2012, there were three new families in Sugaike; abandoned land began to spring back to life, and a local dance festival that had not been held for 10 years was revived. Yago was there at the center of the dancing, cheered on by joyful longtime residents.

This program chronicles seven years in the life of a young man, who wanted to start a new life in the countryside by joining a community that is trying to adapt to the consequences of Japan's aging, shrinking population.

  •  

    The Thousand Cherry Blossom Trees of Eboshiyama Park
    2017 30 mins

    [Festivals of Japan Season 1] Akayu Hot Spring in Yamagata Prefecture lost much of its bustling energy due to large fires that occurred in the late 1800s. Wishing for the recovery of their city, local volunteers created Eboshiyama Park. Later, as vitality slowly began to return to the city through...
    more details
  •  

    Love Hokkaido
    2012 24 mins

    ‘Love Hokkaido’ is a program which attempts to show Hokkaido from a foreigner's perspective, as well as prompt locals to rediscover the delights of their own backyard. The show will present the best of Hokkaido’s nature, culture, food, and lifestyle weekly. The main focus is on Hokkaido cuisine, as the...
    more details
  •  

    The Real Last Samurai: Katori Shinto-ryu
    2019 30 mins

    [Beauty of Japan Season 2] The "Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu" is the oldest martial arts style that exists in Japan. Not only is it extremely popular within Japan, but it also has 30 branches across the globe. In Narita City in Chiba Prefecture, there is a dojo (training hall) where...
    more details
  •  

    Nada Fighting Festival
    2018 30 mins

    [Festivals of Japan Season 2] A grand scene ensues as mikoshi portable shrines batter each other in a display of strength and pride. The Nada Fighting Festival is held annually in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, and is the largest festival among numerous "fight festivals" in Japan. Every year on October...
    more details